Will Obama follow Clinton on biogenerics?

Executive Summary

After adding "presumptive nominee" to his resumé, Sen. Barack Obama may be poised to add more planks to his health care platform as well. While the Illinois Democrat supports the concept of follow-on biologics, he has not signed on to legislation that would create a pathway for approval - in part, perhaps, to avoid assisting his main rival Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., who is one of the lead sponsors. But with the primary campaign over, there is some indication that follow-ons may now enter Obama's messaging, which would presumably also lead him to flesh out his policy position on the issue. On June 4, the Alliance of Minority Medical Associations and the Benenson Strategy Group - which bills itself as the "polling firm for Barack Obama's campaign" - released survey data showing "overwhelming" public support for follow-on biologics. Regardless of what rhetorical positioning is adopted on the campaign trail, however, it seems unlikely there will be any legislative movement on follow-on biologics this year